Regarding Indian Disposition to Treat with United States
Item
Type
Modern Printed Transcription of Letter/Document
Title
Regarding Indian Disposition to Treat with United States
Description
Discusses Indian disposition to treat with United States. Mentions white aggression and Indian aggression, blamed both parties for problems. Describes British influence on the frontiers. Describes preparations for Indian treaty and advised a treaty to be a better course of action than war.
short description
Ltr, dis Indian disposition to treat.
year created
1788
month created
01
day created
27
author
sent from location
Philadelphia
recipient
in collection
in publication
note
Cited in St. Clair to Knox, 03/14/1788.
cited note
Cited document addressed to the War Office
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Arthur St. Clair
Lieutenant Smith
Gen. Harmar
Lord Dorchester
Gen. Butler
Deputy of Indian Affairs
family
Indians
Indian Nation
Indian Affairs Department
superintendent
whites
settlers
notable location
Philadelphia
Ohio [river]
Wabash [river]
falls of the Muskinghum
Tawa River
United States
Carlisle
Fort Pitt
frontier
territory
notable idea/issue
war
peace
treaty
Indian relations
boundary disputes
land rights
ownership
notable phrase
no pains will be spared on my part
unless the inhabitants of the states that border upon them can be retrained from violence and injustice towards them it can never be of long continuance
General Indian war while it would involve thousands in the most extreme distress would be attended with such expence as our present situation would render highly unadviseable
concluded it would be proper to invite them
probable they will not come in numbers
proposed establishments in the country north west of the Ohio and the further sale of lands there for the discharge of the public debt depend entirely on a solid peace with the indians
avail myself of the liberty you were pleased to grant to open any letters from Gen Harmar
intelligence they must have contained would have determined me as to the necessity of inviting the nations upon the Wabash
jealousies they entertain and the uneasiness which agitate them are fomented by the agents of that crown
invitations have been sent by the Superintendant to the different nations
seventy miles from the mouth of the river and navigable by bosats to the spot
goods be deposited in the fort at the mouth of the river
reason to expect that the meeting will be very numerous
regretted that the finances of the United States would not permit a more liberal appropriation of money
frequently receiving very great presents from the British
six thousand pounds sterling in money under the idea of a compensation for losses sustained by them in the late war and goods to an equal value were distributed to them by that nation
remain at peace with the United States
treaty ought to be made
concluded to send one other message to Congress and to wait four months for an answer
Deputy for Indian affairs
forwarded the message to the superintendant without taking a copy so that I had not so perfect an opportunity as I could have wished to judge of its spirit
taken measures to be informed of what passed at that meeting
bottom of their designs
civilized nations
great deal of uneasiness amongst them
a very general war will ensue
hear much of the injuries and depredations that are committed by the indians upon the whites, there is too much reason to believe that at least equal if not greater injuries are done to the indians by the frontier settlers of which we hear very little
in that expectation and in consequence of a request they had nade to that purpose there had been a considerable assembly on the Tawa River
my way to the westward
met with him in that country
weakness of his leg and sickness in his family had hindered him from proceeding earlier
intelligence respecting the disposition of the indians that I was able to obtain at Fort Pitt was not very satisfactory
amounted to little more than that they had been extremely anxious to see some persons with authority from the United States to treat with them
four weeks since I returned from Fort Pitt
waited upon you in person had I not been prevented by a slight indispositioin while the daily expectation of being able to do so made me decline writing
document number
1788012754200
number of pages
3
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | Frame: 723-724 |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Collection: Printed Versions | LC: CC Papers, no. 150, vol. III, fol. 23: C |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: Territorial Papers, Vol. 2. | [unknown] |
| [view document] (0 pages) | [no image] | Publication: The St. Clair Papers | [unknown] |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Arthur St. Clair | Philadelphia | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |